Local economist predicts financial future ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - A detailed plan to solve America's banking problems is key to improving the local economy.

Today, a respected local economist stressed the need for the plan during his economic forecast.

We are knee deep in recessionary waters that will likely rise before they subside. That's the message from Georgia State University professor Rajeev Dhawan. He predicts we won't see substantial job growth until late 2010.

And Dhawan says it might take the Atlanta area longer than others to rebound.

DHAWAN: "Apart from the financial issues, we also have a very big hospitality industry. As you know, people are cutting back. Corporations, or even households, are not going out and eating out. So, we're going to suffer a lot more over there."

Dhawan says the problems stem from banks riddled with troubled assets. That's why he endorses President Obama's plan to test banks to see if financial institutions need government intervention and how much. © Copyright 2012, WABE